How and when to grow Garlic

Where oh where would we be without garlic?? All over the world, cultures use garlic to enhance savory dishes from pesto and tomato sauce to curries and meat rubs. I use garlic in almost every single meal, sauce, or dressing I make. Not only does it add a punch of flavor, but garlic also adds great health benefits to our meals.

Health Benefits

Allicin is a major factor in the benefits of consuming garlic. It thins the blood, which is important for preventing heart attacks and strokes, as it dissolves possible blood clots. Garlic also helps in lowering bad levels of cholesterol (LDL) and raises the levels of good cholesterol (HDL). Garlic also kills or stuns bacteria, and fungus in the gut, and prevents colon cancer.

History

It is presumed, that the origin of garlic first came from south-central Asia before making its way west to the Middle East and the Mediterranean. This crop has relatively been unchanged for hundreds and even thousands of years because it is propagated by planting cloves rather than sexually through seeds.

How to grow garlic

So, how can one grow garlic? This is one crop that is fairly easy to grow, takes up little space in the garden, produces large yields, and stores well. Most garlic, being hardy can withstand winters frozen months and is planted in the fall as a single clove from the head. You’ll want to plant your garlic about 4-6 weeks before the ground freezes. Each clove will produce a full head of garlic for the next year.You’ll want to prepare your soil by loosening it to a depth of at least 6 inches. I like to add a bit of slow-release granular, organic fertilizer. This helps to get things going once the soil begins to warm again in spring.

 Next, you’ll want to dig a trench the length of your garden bed or plot, digging down about 4-5 inches. Put each clove, pointy end up, in your trench spacing about 6 inches apart. Next, you’ll fill the trench back in with leftover soil covering all the cloves. Water gently, and finish by applying a 4-6-inch layer of straw or mulch. Even as temperatures drop in autumn, the soil will stay warm enough for the cloves to establish a root system before the ground fully freezes.

Read on for more uses and recipes:

As mentioned I use garlic in just about everything! One of my favorite ways to use garlic is to roast whole heads in the oven. This gives an extra earthy and smokey flavor to garlic. I first wrap whole heads in tin foil, making sure tops are facing up, and there is a slight opening at the top. Put the oven to about 375 and roast for about 23-35 minutes.

This will soften garlic so you can mash it into a paste and use it in all kinds of things, from your pasta sauces or mashed potatoes, or mix with olive oil and salt and spread on top of fresh-baked bread.

RECIPE IDEAS

Garlic Rub for meat and poultry

4 cloves garlic

2 teaspoons black pepper

1 Tablespoon each of parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme

1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix and mash everything together and rub all over the meat and let marinate for at least an hour. This will add hat restaurant fancy feel to all your at home dishes.

Honey Mustard Dressing

4 cloves garlic

1/2 olive oil

1/4 c balsamic vinegar

1 Tbsp honey

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp of salt

sprinkle of pepper

Blend and mix all together. Apply to some leafy greens. Enjoy all week long!

Thanks for following along! I’d love to hear your favorite recipes using your homegrown garlic. Leave a comment below!